EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey—Rarely does an injury help a team, and that's especially true when the player in question doesn't have a backup, as is the case for a punter.
But in a round about way, Michael Dickson's back spasms late in the Seahawks' 26-21 actually worked out well for the Seahawks.
With Dickson unavailable to punt early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks were facing fourth-and-6 in their own territory looking at the option to either use kicker Jason Myers for a punt, or to go for it.
The Seahawks took the aggressive approach, and converted after a pair of Jets penalties, first an illegal substitution penalty that made it fourth-and-1, then a pass interference penalty that gave Seattle a first down. And after those Jets penalties gave the Seahawks life, they took advantage, finishing out the drive with the go-ahead Zach Charbonnet touchdown run that proved to be the game-winner.
"We nominated Dicko as the honorary player of the game for not being available for us having to go for it on fourth down," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald joked after the game.
As for the injury itself, Macdonald said Dickson was dealing with back spasms.
"He's in good spirits and everything," he said. "We've just got to get it loosened up a little bit. I'm not sure how that works."
On that fourth-down decision, Macdonald noted, "That was fun conversations in the headset," and added he was not going to punt again had a situation come up that required it.
"The plan was for him to not to punt the rest of the game. J-My could have gone out there and punted, or we would have gone for it," he said.
In other injury news, DK Metcalf briefly left the game and had to be helped off the field by trainers, but a quick test of his knee showed he was OK and Metcalf was back after missing just two plays.
"He tweaked his knee," Macdonald said. "Then we did a bunch of tests and stuff, and I think he's doing all right right now. We'll see."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks strong safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58), Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
